Comments on: An Agent’s Best Friend

By: Jared March

Jared March — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:46:47 +0000

I don’t think Owings is going to change the game or really help his contract value all that much. His next contract will mostly just reflect how well he pitches. He is without question the best hitting pitcher in the league right now but he only gets to bat 1/5 games if he remains in the NL and once a game in the games he doesn’t pitch as a pinch hitter. It’s good to have a strong bat on the bench but how much do NL teams really pay for their best bat coming off the bench? I do think he will capitalize off of his abilities with the bat to some extent but if he doesn’t pitch like a top pitcher (he has been good this year pitching too)he won’t get paid like one. As for other pitchers, they might spend more time in BP going forward but it’s not as if they aren’t trying already, it is just really rare to have a pitcher with that type of ability at the plate.

By: Darren Heitner

Darren Heitner — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:13:23 +0000

I disagree about replacing the DH. Too many baseball books document the reasoning behind its initial appearance. Charlie O., owner of the Athletics, wanted to go as far as implementing designated runners. The DH may have been the AL’s savior. Owners would be too resistant to experiment with going back to the old ways. I think we may see more pitchers in the NL that can hit, though, and potentially move up from the 9 spot in the order.

By: Emmett Jones

Emmett Jones — Tue, 06 May 2008 05:20:30 +0000

Yeah, I agree with you and Matt. In fact, I give it 10 years and I think the hitting pitcher is going to become so popular that it will in essence replace the DH in the American League.

By: Matthew Vuckovich

Matthew Vuckovich — Tue, 06 May 2008 04:00:58 +0000

In due time I think more pitchers will spend their “off hours” in the cages taking some BP. Who knows, it may be the next best thing besides a LHP on the roster…